Split detection system

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a split detecting apparatus for bowling games including means for detecting the presence or absence of standing pins at each pin spot, means responsive to the detecting means for determining whether the standing pin arrangement constitutes a split, and means responsive to the determining means for indicating the existence of a split. In the preferred embodiment, the split detecting system is used in conjunction with a bowling score computer and means are provided whereby the split indication is printed on a score sheet.

Unite 88888 1151 3,69,015

Reynolds Mar. 14, 1972 154] SPLIT DETECTION SYSTEM 3,212,779 10/1965 Grussetal. ..273/s41) 3,124,355 3/1964 Mentzer ..273/s4 c [72] Inventor: Eugene E. Reynolds, Orangeburg, S.C.

- Prima Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle 73 A 1 13 1111s li c 1 Sslgnee r we ("pom Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [22] Filed: Mar. 14, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 807,207 1 STRACT This invention relates to a split detecting apparatus for Related Apphcamm Dam bowling games including means for detecting the presence or [60] Division Of $61. No. 536,151, Mar. 21, 1966, Pat. N0. absence f standing P at h 13 Spot, means respohsive t 3,488,055, Continuation of S61. N0. 243,525, D66. 10, the detecting means for determlmns whether the s P arrangement constitutes a split, and means responsive to the 1962, abandoned.

determining means for indicating the existence of a spl1t. In [52] US. Cl ..273/54l the Preferred m nt, the Split detecting system is used in 51 161.131. ..A63d 5/04 conjunction with a bowling Score computer and means are [58] Field 618661-611 ..273/54 (1, 54 D, 54 13 Provided whereby the Split indication is Printed on a Score sheet.

[56] References Cited 17 Claims, 67 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,140,872 7/1964 Bolger .g73 54 1;

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1. In a bowling score system in which balls are rolled during a succession of bowling frames to earn cumulative frame score, means for detecting pinfall, means for scanning said pinfall detecting means, means connected to said scanning means serving to derive a split signal when a split occurs, and means responsive to said split signal for indicating a split.
 2. In a machine for indicating scores of a bowling game wherein the bowling balls are rolled by each of a plurality of players to earn cumulative score values corresponding to completion of each of said frames and the completion of said games based upon pinfall resulting from the rolling of said balls, means for detecting the pinfall and generating a pinfall signal, means responsive to said pinfall detecting means for generating a split signal, means responsive to pinfall information for calculating the frame score for each player, printing means settable to print cumulative frame score, pinfall information and split information, and means controlling said printing means to print in appropriaTe frame positions the pinfall and split information and cumulative frame scores.
 3. A machine as in claim 2 wherein said means for generating a split signal includes means responsive to a signal indicating the head pin is standing for preventing the generation of a split signal.
 4. In a split indicating apparatus for a bowling game in which balls are rolled during a bowling frame to earn a frame score, means for identifying pins standing after the rolling of the first ball of the frame, means responsive to said identifying means for detecting a split condition in the identified pins standing, and means for generating a split signal responsive to detection of the split condition.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 including means responsive to said identifying means for totalizing fallen pins.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said split condition detecting means comprises means for scanning said identifying means, and said split signal generating means comprises means connected to said scanning means serving to derive a split signal from the scanned identified pins standing and including means for indicating a split symbol responsive only to generation of said split signal.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said indicating means comprises a printing means for printing a split symbol.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 including means for displaying the printed split symbol.
 9. For use in connection with a bowling game utilizing ten pins respectively on pinspots arranged in an equilateral triangular pattern on a support surface, wherein a base of the triangular pattern is located parallel to the rear end of the bowling lane, wherein the pinspots may be characterized as disposed in adjacent parallel rows extending longitudinally of the lane each of which includes at least one pinspot and wherein the pins standing following the rolling of a first ball in a frame of the game are characterized as a split if the head pin is down and pins are present in two longitudinal rows not adjacent to one another and absent in a row therebetween, in combination, split determining means, comprising, detecting means corresponding respectively to the pinspots and adapted to be actuated to produce signals indicative of the standing pins following the rolling of a first ball of a frame in the game, means for scanning the detecting means row by row to produce distinct signals upon the presence of pins in two rows not adjacent to each other and the absence of pins in a row therebetween, means responsive to two distinct signals from the scanning means for generating a split signal, and means responsive to an indication by the detecting means that the head pin is standing for preventing generation of a split signal.
 10. The split determining means of claim 9 wherein said detecting means comprises switches connectible to one side of a source of power and said scanning means comprises a circuit having switch means including a movable wiper, a plurality of stationary contacts, one for each pinspot, electrically connected respectively to said switches and arranged to be electrically contacted by said wiper in a predetermined order, said generating means being electrically connected to said wiper and connectible to the other side of said source of power whereby said stationary contacts serve to preclude the changing of the condition of said circuit and production of said two distinct signals as said wiper moves between adjacent ones of said stationary contacts if pins are standing in two adjacent longitudinal rows, and said two distinct signals are issued only when pins are standing in two nonadjacent longitudinal rows.
 11. The split determining means of claim 9 wherein said generating means comprises switch means for issuing said split signal, means responsive to said two distinct signals for operating said switch means to issue said split signal, first means for disabling said operating means when the first of said two distinct signals is received, said operating meanS including second means for disabling said first means after the first of said two distinct signals is received whereby said operating means will operate said switch means to issue said split signal in response to the second of said two distinct signals.
 12. For use in connection with a bowling game utilizing ten pins respectively on pinspots arranged in an equilateral triangular pattern on a support surface, wherein a base of the triangular pattern is located parallel to the rear end of the bowling lane, wherein the pinspots may be characterized as disposed in adjacent parallel rows extending longitudinally of the lane each of which includes at least one pinspot, and wherein the pins standing following the rolling of a first ball in a frame of the game are characterized as difficult if the head pin is down and pins are standing in each of two longitudinal rows not adjacent to one another and down in a row therebetween, in combination, a. means for identifying pins standing after the rolling of the first ball of the frame, b. means for providing a signal indicating difficulty, and c. means responsive to the identifying means for c-1 determining when the head pin is down and pins are standing in each of any two longitudinal rows not adjacent to one another but down in a row therebetween, c-2 and in such event actuating said signal means to provide said signal.
 13. Split determining means for determining the existence of a split condition in a bowling game utilizing 10 triangularly arranged pinspots disposed in adjacent parallel rows extending longitudinally of the lane wherein a split occurs when pins are standing in two longitudinal rows not adjacent to one another and down in a row therebetween and comprising means for providing pinfall information relative to the presence or absence of a pin at each pin spot and including means for serially providing signals corresponding to standing pin positions; means responsive to said providing means for ascertaining whether standing pins on said pinspots correspond to a split condition as defined above; and means responsive to said ascertaining means for indicating when a split occurs.
 14. A split determining system according to claim 13 wherein said split ascertaining means includes means for receiving pinfall information, seriatim, from said pinfall information means and means for precluding the indication of a split when the head pin is standing.
 15. A split determining system according to claim 13 wherein said split ascertaining means is constructed and arranged to find the existence of a split when the head pin is not standing and when pins are standing in two nonadjacent longitudinal rows on a bowling lane with the pins down in a row therebetween.
 16. Split detecting apparatus for determining the existence of a split in a bowling game utilizing ten pins on triangularly arranged pinspots disposed in adjacent parallel rows extending longitudinally of a bowling lane, comprising a. pin detecting means, b. means for sequentially interrogating said pin detecting means and for generating, seratim, a plurality of signals designating the presence or absence of standing pins, c. means, including memory means, for receiving said signals and responsive to certain of the signals and lack of certain others of said signals to issue a split signal when pins are standing in two longitudinal rows not adjacent to one another and down in a row therebetween, d. means responsive to one of said plurality of signals indicating that the head pin is standing for precluding issuance of said split signal, and e. indicator means responsive to said split signal for indicating that a split has occurred.
 17. A bowling split detector comprising means responsive to standing bowling pins after a bowling ball has been rolled to provide a plurality of signals, occurrence of said signals indicating that corresponding pins are standing and lack of occurrence of said Signals indicating that corresponding pins are down, means for providing an indication of a split, means responsive to the occurrence of a particular one of said signals that indicates that the head pin is standing to prevent actuation of said indication means and indication of a split, and means responsive to the occurrence of certain of said signals and lack of certain others of said signals for determining the existence of a split to cause actuation of said indication means and indication of a split when a split occurs. 